Transforming electric vehicles into mobile power sources: a strategy for grid resilience

With the rise in frequency and severity of power grid disruptions, there is a pressing need for innovative methods to improve power supply resilience. Electric vehicles (EVs), acting as mobile storage units, offer a unique opportunity to establish an EV-based virtual electricity network (EVEN), facilitating electricity transfer from stable regions to those facing outages. This approach is particularly valuable during extended disruptions, such as those caused by crises. However, existing research typically treats EVs as uncoordinated, individual backup sources, missing the broader potential of a coordinated system. This study introduces a comprehensive model for the EVEN solution, focusing on the coordination of electricity distribution via EVs. The model incorporates a central emergency microgrid (MG) that can operate independently when the main grid fails, along with multiple EV-equipped households. Evaluated using a real-world scenario in Sweden, the study measures performance through metrics like energy deficit days, electricity delivery, and battery degradation. The findings demonstrate that the EVEN solution significantly boosts grid resilience, especially for smaller energy users, with minimal impact on battery health. The solution is most efficient when households are close to the central MG, minimizing energy loss. This research provides key insights into enhancing grid resilience using EVs.